ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses analytical methods that are fundamental to the reliability engineering discipline and defines those assumptions which are basic to reliability theory and its application to hardware design and engineering. This discussion is not intended to provide a complete theoretical foundation for reliability. Rather, it is intended to provide an overall basis for those design, engineering and test activities necessary to the development of highly reliable and maintainable systems and equipment. As such, this chapter serves as a general preamble to the topics covered in subsequent chapters. Appendix B (Bibliography) identifies some of the sources that present fundamental concepts and considerations, including statistical methods, probability theory and system engineering principles.
